On Thursday, the University of Minnesota Duluth softball’s own Nicole Schmitt landed on the 2025 NFCA DII Player and Pitch of the Year Watchlist.

116 players made the list, with that number being broken down into eight NCAA regions. Schmitt is one of fifteen players nominated from the central region. The senior infielder has been named NSIC Player of the Week twice so far this season and has posted new single season highs with ten home runs, ten stolen bases, and forty-nine RBI’s only midway through the 2025 season.

Schmitt is ranked top two in the NSIC in batting average, hits, home runs, on-base percentage, RBIs, slugging percentage, and total bases. She is also tied to lead nationally for Division II in RBI’s.

The 2025 NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year Award will be announced following the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA Division II National Championships.